Today is Christmas Eve. You can definitely tell that by how quiet things are around town. Some of the businesses are not even open today so that their employees can have the day for travel or final Christmas shopping. That cannot be said about the malls and large retailers however. There is a definite busyness around them as people rush in for last-minute items. The grocery stores are the same way.

Of course, this is a day that I focus on the reason for all of the celebrations. Tonight we will have a beautiful worship service to remember that on a night many years ago, a young boy came into this world. This boy was typical in many ways. He cried, he slept a lot, and he responded to the touch of his loving mother. He would grow up to be pretty normal in his activities and how he would spend his time. However, he was also significantly different. This child born so many years ago would change the course of human history forever and would change the way humans understood God and one another. This boy, Jesus, would become a man who would teach with authority and newness. He would reverse the norms of the have’s and have-nots’. He would change the focus from condemnation and judgment to forgiveness and grace. He would place love as the primary focus of what it meant to be God’s children.

The work is definitely not complete. While the birth of the boy would begin a change, the change has not occurred in all the hearts of humanity. So each of us continues to allow the Spirit to change our hearts. Each of us are given the opportunity to share the message of the boy whose birth we celebrate. Each of us are given the opportunity to live the life that he spoke of and provided by example.

Speaking of work, there will be a break in blog posts as I am going on vacation after today. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity regenerate and to refocus. My blog posts will begin again on January 7.

Let me close by wishing all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and the hope for you to have blessed New Year!